Willis Jackson Magruder, 89, of Kirksville, Missouri, died Sunday, November 17, 2024 at his home in Kirksville. Jack was born on Wednesday, August 7, 1935 in his grandmother’s home in Lentner, MO, the son of Charles Franklin Magruder and Jewell Maude Wood Magruder.
When he was 7 years old the family relocated to Kirksville to take advantage of higher education for their children. All five siblings, beginning with the oldest sister, would eventually graduate from what is now Truman State University, as had Jack’s grandmother in the 1890s.
Jack’s first memory in Kirksville is of riding his bike on campus in front of Kirk Memorial. He thought it was the most beautiful building he had ever seen. All his family “old ones” had photos taken in front of Kirk Memorial for special occasions. Years later his oldest grandson would hold his wedding reception in that building.
Jack graduated from Kirksville High School with the Class of 1953 and was a proud member of the 1950 Kirksville Tigers football Hall of Fame team. As a senior in high school Jack joined the US Naval Reserves with his classmates and friends, Don Noble and H.A. Lindberg. They served together until their honorable discharges in May 1961. Jack remained active in class reunions for 71 years and cherished his special life-long friendships.
After high school graduation, while standing in the summer class registration line for Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, he met a beautiful young woman named Sue Brimer. On their first date Jack told her that he was going to marry her and that he dreamed of someday becoming a science education professor at the college. Two months later, on August 4, 1954, they were married at First Baptist Church in Kirksville.
Even before his graduation from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in 1957, Jack began his career as an educator teaching math at Hurdland and Kirksville high schools. The next several years were spent moving around the country (Iowa, Colorado, California, Louisiana) while Jack pursued his Masters and Doctoral degrees, Sue taught elementary school, and they grew their family. In 1964 the family returned to Kirksville where Jack had been offered a job teaching in the science division at Northeast Missouri State College, fulfilling that dream he had shared with Sue on their first date. For 22 years Jack taught Chemistry and Science Education in the building now known as Magruder Hall. In 1986 he became Science Division Head, later Dean of Instruction and Vice President of Academic Affairs. As President (1994-2003), he led the name change to Truman State University.
In 2008 Jack was named President of A.T. Still University in Kirksville, MO becoming the only president of both Kirksville institutions. He retired from ATSU in 2012. Jack then returned to teaching chemistry at the Kirksville campus of Moberly Area Community College in 2014.
In 1966 Jack and Sue built their house in the country east of Kirksville on what is now known as Willis Creek Ranch. There they welcomed generations of students from around the world, and countless gatherings of friends and family. They raised their family with superb love and dedication, leaving a legacy of faith, hope, and love.
Jack was skilled both in riding and driving teams of horses. For decades he cherished time spent with his brothers, Charles and Mitch, riding horses and camping together for ‘Guys Weekends’. Jack also shared this love of horses with his grandchildren; teaching them to ride, carrying them on sleigh rides in the winter while dressed as Santa Claus, and entering parades with them filling the wagon waving flags. His horses were such an important part of his life that they participated in special events at Truman. Frosty, his white mare, was present at the dedication of Magruder Hall and Governor, his beloved palomino, attended Jack and Sue’s retirement reception at the backyard of the Truman President’s house. His love of horses and the rural lifestyle led to his appointment by Governor Jay Nixon to the Missouri State Fair Commission. Jack and his family made many memories through the years enjoying campsites side-by-side at the Missouri State Fair, a legacy that continues with the next generation.
In 1992 Jack heard the song Look At Us on the radio and hand copied the lyrics in a love letter to Sue. He was correct that their love was the embodiment of the song - and that love lives on.
Look at us after all these years together.
Look at us after all that we’ve been through.
Look at us still leaning on each other.
If you wanna see how true love should be then just look at us.
Look at us still believing in forever…
If you wanna see how true love should be then just look at us.
Jack and Sue dedicated their lives to education and service to others. Together they taught young-married and college-age Sunday school classes for many years in the churches they attended, including First United Methodist Church where they were members since 1989.
Jack’s toughest battle began in 1987 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and given a minimal chance of survival. Throughout 2 years of grueling treatment with radiation and chemotherapy, he never stopped working as Science Division Head, often returning to the office each morning before driving to Columbia in the afternoon for treatments. While always a man of deep faith, this time in his life refocused him on what was important in terms of his love of family, friends and his relationship with God. He stated, “I would never want anyone to go through that, but I feel it enriched my life greatly in the end.”
He distilled his faith in a handwritten note in the margin of his Bible near the passage “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:35-39):
“Forgive everyone everything every night”
Jack brought out the best in everyone he encountered. All would rise to what he saw in us. His gratitude, generosity, kindness, and joy overflowed right up to the end of his life when medical personnel remarked in astonishment that he was “the most thankful person they had ever met”.
Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 67 years, Sue Brimer Magruder, in May 2021. Also preceding him were his parents, Charles and Jewell, and his siblings, Marjorie Magruder Glass, Carolyn Magruder Baughman, Charles Magruder and Mitch Magruder.
He is survived by 3 children, Julie Beth Magruder Lochbaum, Kerry Vaughn Magruder (Candace), and Laura Ellen Magruder Mann (Marvin). Grandchildren include Rachel (Stephen) Folmar, James (Rojina) Lochbaum, Hannah Magruder, Anna (Matthew) Matheney, Jackson (Brianna) Mann, Susanna Magruder, and Jonathan Mann. Great grandchildren include Maverick Mann, Aasha Lochbaum, Carlile Mann, Ethan Folmar, Rosa Lochbaum, and a 6th (baby Mann) on the way.
Funeral service will be Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 1:00 pm at First United Methodist Church in Kirksville followed immediately by a graveside service. A public service of remembrance will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm in the Student Union Georgian Room at Truman State University.
Pallbearers are James Lochbaum, Stephen Folmar, Matthew Matheney, Jackson Mann, Jonathan Mann and Zac Burden. Honorary Pallbearers are Brian Degenhardt, Pete Detweiler, Marvin Mann, Matt Matheney, Dorothy Munch, Bob Nothdurft, Mary Rhodes Russell, Margaret Wilson, and Heinz Woehlk.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Sue & Jack Magruder Scholarship fund at Truman State University (Sue and Jack Magruder Scholarship), the A.T. Still University Jack Magruder Memorial Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Symposium award (giving.atsu.edu/jack-magruder), or First United Methodist Church in Kirksville (https://firstumckirksville.breezechms.com/give/online).
